Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-11-23

ia AAAA az ACNuAu AOl al HAS
goodness.
Foolish child, "he said once. sswhen
W III you learn that | owe everything to
you, and you are indebted TO me for
nothing? Am | not the most sontented
man that ever lived? Is not nv house
already more comfortable and pleasant
than any woman no matter how
beautiful or rich she might be-could
make ltp Does my business lose any
thing by my not dissipating, as most
young men do? Or do YOU think |
could enjoy myself more in the heated
concert halls among the elegantly
dressed people than here in this COM
Portable chair? Or that the grand music
which I don't understand would please
me better than your playingp No
more of this sadness, little sister; you
hearl"
IL promise, RudOlph,' she said, ''I
VIII not be So aCain-uO never" 80
she spoke, and her face looked bright
and hopeful.
He tried to make her keep her word.
but the gloomy thoughts would ever
recur; and the old woman Frau Stern,
who lived on the next floor below, and
did the greater part of the simple
domestic work for her, was obliged TO
hear many lamentations.
''Ahl am pOOr useless creature. -
she sighed constantly. 'Iie has u
work hard and bear all the burthen for
NE, and | spend his earnings day after
day, and can do nothing TO help him."
''Mariechen.' Frau stern would SAY,
cousolIugly, don't talk that WY.
What could your brother do without
you2 You are more 10 him than a
wife Cou be. Il would not suit him
u marry; he is far too good for the
frivolous young ladies nowadays"
Often had she spoken such words of
sO!aCemeut 10 the poor orphan; but she
only shook her little head sadly, and
would not be comfOrted-
One day an old servant came TO her
in great aIitItiou.
"Nariecheu,' she said, IF you really
would Ike 10 earn something, l know
how you can do So"
The blind girl smiled incredulously.
- earn anything! impCsS!blel''
Eyes. by p.avI'Ig the piano"
The features % the blind girl We're
suddenly animated.
How do you meln?'' she askeI,
eagerly.
Then the woman explained the plan.
On the ground floor WIS a public house
IA small TeStauTaut-WAeTe they uSu-
ally had music for the entertainment
Of the customers. The laudIliy WAS a
good woman, who, having heard OF
Narie's playing, sent word 10y h-r 10
know II she would play for her fOT an
hour or 50 at about . o'clock every
evening for 4 proper recOmpeuSe. The
blind girl listened, holding heT breath
in surprise. ANY one offer her money
for LeT simple mUS!c-Ler, blind grip
She be able to earn something? II It
were only possiblel Oil II she ONLY
might be able TO say 10 her brother:
Look, Rudolf, what l have earned
with my own hands" The old ser
/ want, Marie imagined, was only telling
ner through sympathy for her affection,
. and the laudIady had no ld-a of EN-
pIuylug her. Thus she reasoned, for
she could not real Ze that there was 50
. much happiness N store Tor her. Byt
directly the hostess came in person and
repeated the wish with sweet, agree
able words. she might begin at once,
tomorrow, she sald. Only one request
had she u make, she continued, and
that was for her to play the live! esi
pieces she kUew. Her customers Were
honest IR50-ing people, who usually
pTtf-rVrG cheerful music
The blind g.-i thanked her with her
voice trembling with pleasure. Asking
her not u let EcU brother know any.
thing about it. at least At first" she
aided.
"Oll he shall not find 1t out, res,
assured of that, = she replied.
The next evening she came and led
the girl dowr, Directly At the loot OF
the stairway WAS a door leading IutJ
the restaurant. Tie room was file
with noisy. CaCOu~iuT men. IL WI
easy To real the Cuaraster OF the place
in their faces.
The hostess managed to have some
one continually 10 turuLh music, q
make her place attractive Sometime
&C. was wandering vIoliu.s-, or stree
singer, this time Il Was tie blind girl
In "A corner of the room stood \ piano
To- which size guided Ler. Like q sta
with It's pure light shining In wI.duer
ness. was the innocent maiden in tina
crowd OK uucultured. vicious men.
Some of them looked at her IN sur
prise and with timIdIty, and listene,
Tor while atteutIveiy 10 her playing
. Bat soon they took NO further notice y
her. The blind girl could hear IN
hum Of the voices around herr but iii,
not notice what was passing anon.
them, So busiIy was she engaged in he
performance and 80 anxious 10 satIsI
, the Iludlaiv with her efforts III
selected the brightest and most cheer
Cul airs, and played Increasingly 10
more than "a" hour. When she Wa
completely exhausted her emp!oye
asked her To stop, handing her IN
promised money, and led her thrOug
the thruug of bO.steIOus men tothe TO-
= of the stairs, from whence she usual
asceuled alone.
, How haupv she felt. At last she wa
able 10 tighten her brOtuer's burden
] to DO something toward repaylug hiT
= for his great and numerous sacrifice;
3 In feverish excitement she CROPPED he
{ yy,ty M thu l5us flights of steps. Cor
. vuIsiveIy ami tightly her little achiu
o fingers clasped the coin, which SCENE
= In prppel "A current of electricity thrOug
D her every vein, so hot was the bloc
; stream that coursed from her quickl
( heating heart. she had 70 stop 10 cate
1 her breath at the door Of her hit
. r1oIn. s.uuw much mOuey eNclteS one,
r she said 10 herself, almost lT guJene
d at the new aud peculiar feeling whlc
) she felt over her hTst earnings; but sti
J, IL was only for her brother, and Il
: thought of giving him pleasure ths
C animated her.
' The second evening passed Ike Il
] first. The soft, sweet, ripping not
a seemed To fall from the tips Of her Il
= ing fingers, and the sweet, strdns
/ music sounded with the tumu!t, III
r, rLe frightened, disconnected song OF
/ bTd in "a stormy forest Again she T
!. r4iyed payment for her exeTtlon, whic
% iuexperienced in the ways OF the Wor
- as she was, seemed a fortune 10 her.
? Teen came the thlrd and eveni
q evening. She had been at the pia!
n longer than usual, and was just turniI
e 10 leave when she felt strong al
u thrown around her, and the coaI
n voice of a drunken man sounded clio
h to her ear.
Is GIVE me kiss, little treasure.
Almost paralyzsd with terror, 5
RI snranC up and attemped TO tear hers
from the horrible embrace, but I
IS arm only closed more tightly arou
le her.